October 2016 Newsletter

The Importance of Posture

The four support systems in everyday life are your shoes/orthotics, chair, bed, and pillow. If you are not spending the majority of time on your feet, you are sitting, or sleeping. Standing, walking, sitting, and sleeping are all different activities with one common variable - time. It is the time you spend on your feet, the time you spend seated, and the time you spend sleeping that has an impact on your health and well-being.

When you place your body in a static position for prolonged periods of time you are actively engaging certain muscle groups and placing stress and strain on the body. With improper posture, stress and strain is now placed on muscles, ligaments, tendons, bones, and discs that are not meant to handle such loads. Over time this can lead to overuse injuries, scar tissue accumulation, weakness, and tightness in certain areas of the body. These areas now become more prone to injury.

Some common postural faults include:

Forward head posture

Sitting with a rounded back

Improper footwear

Sleeping on stomach

Improve seated posture:

Feet flat on the floor

Back against backrest

Head retracted over torso

Natural arch in low back

Improve sleeping position:

Sleep on back with head supported, pillow under the thighs

Sleep on side with head supported, knees bent, pillow between the knees

Improvements in footwear:

Ensure proper fit

Check wear patterns and replace when worn

Ensure proper arch support/orthotics

Active Performance Chiropractic focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of athletic-related injuries. Treatment is a unique blend of Active Release Techniques, traditional chiropractic therapy, and physical rehabilitation designed to match each patient’s goals and lifestyle.